Roggwil combines a distinctive history of church architecture with traces of a Celtic settlement and a range of leisure activities. You can shape your stay around cultural discoveries, outdoor activities or a visit to one of the local leisure attractions.
Churches and Architectural History
Construction of Roggwil Reformed Church began in 1665. The heraldic pyramid above the south entrance, a sculpture by Abraham I Dünz, also dates from that year. Inside, the furnishings include grisaille paintings and a wooden pulpit, both also dating from 1665. The present tower on the north side was built in 1776. The roof shape also defines the building: the Baroque preaching hall sits beneath a steep gabled roof, which is hipped above the polygonal end. The church’s doors have been open to visitors for more than 350 years.
Another religious landmark is the Bruder Klaus Church Centre, Roggwil’s Roman Catholic parish church. It was built in 1973 at Bahnhofstrasse 73 as a branch church of the mother parish church of Maria Königin in Langenthal. This means that different chapters in the history of church architecture stand side by side in Roggwil: the early construction of the Reformed church and the 20th-century centre.
Celtic Traces and Art
A large Iron Age settlement existed in the Fryburg fields, at the confluence of the Langete and the Rot, from around 80 to 50 BC. The Celtic town was fortified with ramparts and ditches, covered around 23 hectares and was densely built up inside. A monumental cross-wall fortification stood on the southwestern edge of the oppidum. Surveys uncovered, among other finds, 250 Celtic coins and 100 non-ferrous metal objects.
The Bromer Art Collection in Roggwil offers a different cultural focus: it is dedicated to Classical Modernism and contemporary art. Art lovers will thus find a contemporary thematic accent alongside the area’s older history.
Leisure Activities and Events
Belli’s Mini Leisure Park welcomes families and is set amid nature. Children can let off steam while adults relax over coffee, wine and food. Another option for an active outing is the Race Inn Kartbahn Roggwil. Its track is 630 metres long and 8 metres wide.
Roggwil swimming pool is open to the public. Its facilities include swimming pools, a waterslide, a children’s pool and other leisure activities, complemented by a poolside restaurant. The complex is set in a picturesque, semi-open hollow in a natural setting. As facilities and operations may change, check the latest operating status before your visit.
The St. Urban–Roggwil monastery fair now stretches from St. Urban in the Lucerne municipality of Pfaffnau to Roggwil in the canton of Bern. During the three-day fair, clubs from both municipalities provide entertainment until the early hours; the programme may vary. Around 200 market traders set up their stalls for the Sunday market, which is then visited by thousands of people. Check the dates in advance if you are planning to attend.
On Foot, by Bike and by Public Transport
The St. Urban–Roggwil circular hike can also be done by bike. Its marked hiking trail descends from St. Urban towards Roggwil and Murgenthal. Along the way, the route briefly passes the Rebberg-Trottenhubel natural forest reserve and offers views over Roggwil and towards the Jura. These route features provide useful reference points when choosing between walking the loop and cycling it.
Public transport is one way to get to the circular hike: trains run every half hour from Langenthal to Roggwil and St. Urban. Buses to St. Urban run from the Rottal and Pfaffnau. Check the timetable before travelling to make sure your chosen connection suits your outing.
Discover more destinations: Kölliken, Bottenwil, Zofingen, Staffelbach, Rothrist, Safenwil
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